David J. Wilks

Hodgson Russ LLP’s Immigration Group focuses on corporate immigration law, representing U.S. companies of all sizes. The firm works closely with employers to advise on and facilitate the employment of foreign nationals in the United States, on both a temporary and permanent basis. Its immigration attorneys have extensive experience across a range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and higher education.

Hodgson Russ’s immigration compliance attorneys counsel corporations on making sound hiring decisions involving foreign employees, ensuring that both short- and long-term strategies are in place. The firm also partners with large multinational organizations to strengthen company-wide immigration programs, supporting global mobility initiatives while maintaining full compliance with applicable regulations.

The Immigration Group advises on a broad spectrum of matters, including H-1B, L-1, E-1/E-2, O-1, P-1, and TN visas; employment-based green cards; USMCA-based immigration; STEM and skilled professional immigration; cross-border employment; and the relocation of foreign companies to the United States.

A significant portion of the firm’s work involves helping companies anticipate and avoid challenges in hiring and retaining foreign talent. Hodgson Russ attorneys emphasize the importance of proactive planning to ensure ongoing compliance with immigration laws throughout the duration of an employee’s tenure, working to identify and mitigate potential issues before they arise.

Attorneys in the Immigration Group have been recognized by leading organizations including Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Members of the team have also held leadership roles within AILA at both the national and local levels, including service on its national Board of Governors.

Hodgson Russ LLP is a full-service Am Law 200 firm that has delivered practical, results-driven legal solutions for more than 200 years. The firm works with clients across the globe—including individuals, public companies, privately held businesses, governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations—providing strategic advice tailored to their specific needs and objectives.

With a strategic footprint along the East Coast, Hodgson Russ is well positioned to serve clients seamlessly from Toronto to Palm Beach, across the United States and Canada, and internationally.

The firm is known for delivering exceptional value through responsiveness, high-quality legal work, and efficient management of client matters. This approach has contributed to long-standing client relationships and sustained growth for the firm.

Hodgson Russ is consistently recognized for excellence in the legal profession. The firm, its practice groups, and its attorneys are regularly honored by clients, peers, national legal publications, and leading ranking organizations. Notable recognitions include inclusion in The National Law Journal’s “NLJ 500” and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (nationally and regionally), designation as a “Best-Branded Law Firm” in the BTI Brand Elite report, and multiple firm and attorney rankings in Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms,” “Best Lawyers in America,” and “Best Lawyers in Canada.”